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[miltiades]

It was in the Autumn of 1963 , a month or so before I met my late wife, when I first met Charly. I was 17 years old, he, a couple of years older.

I lived in Clapham North then South London, my immediate family had been in the UK for just over a year, we all lived in a house which we rented from a Greek Cypriot.

Each morning I would visit a Café, on the main Clapham Road next to Clapham North Tube station. The café was owned by a Greek Cypriot called " Mantilas" , that's when I met Charly. A jovial happy go lucky guy but a sturdy sort of bloke, strong as an ox with forearms like tree trunks. The café was visited by Irish builders some nice some troublesome, and that's when Charly would see that they behaved themselves.

He came from Kritou Marottou in Paphos and we soon struck up a Paphian relationship, Stroumbi being so close to his vaillage.

A month or so later after meeting him, I proudly stopped for lunch in my newly acquired Lambretta that I bought from a Greek Greek for £5 !!! Drove it all the way from North London in ...first gear !!

Charly was impressed. Always a friendly guy and full of jokes.

He announced that on the coming Sunday he had " proxenia " . A nice girl I asked ? Is she Cypriot ? Oh yes he replied , from Paphos.

Hope all works out well I responded.

Imagine my surprise on Sunday afternoon when I answered a knock on the house door and there stood ..Charly !!

Charly my dear brother in law , married to my late sister passed away today, he was admitted to the Limassol general hospital about 3 week ago after being found unconscious in Yermasoyia. He was diabetic on insulin and had a progressive dementia.

He never showed any signs of having cancer, the hospital found out after tests, the cancer had spread to his kidneys, liver and other parts of his body. 72 he was, a real Cypriot, a down to earth, honest family man who will be sorely missed by us all.
Aionia sou I mnimi Yavriil - Gabriel .....

Nobody ever called him by his christened name, to all it was Charly, well known in Limassol, run a supermarket in Kanika Sea forum for many years.

RIP Charly...

[bill cobbett]

A touching obituary, Milti.

RIP Charly ...

[GreekIslandGirl]

Really sad to hear of the loss of your friend, Milty mou. Another life extinguished.

[DT.]

RIP Milt..your bro sounded like a great guy.

[Paphitis]

Sad to read this news Milti.

[miltiades]

A curse ? Timing ? Who knows. Charly was after all 72, we all have to go someday. Death, as tragic as it is its perfectly normal, a journey older people inevitably embark upon. What is tragic is when a young person who has hardly lived reaches the ultimate.

Considering attending the funeral in Limassol, but how can I , cancer has been my nightmare for years now. Members of my family, not related to each other, there was young Harry, age 22, my sister age 63 then at the same age my late wife .

Charly and I were not only brothers in law but bloody good mates, worked together, run businesses together and drunk together. I enjoyed his company and he mine. I must attend ...

Caroline is my sons wife, 41 years old. In semi coma for weeks now, cancer in the brain. Unable to stand, walk, eat drink or perform any bodily functions. My son is devastated, relies on me for support, sends me numerous texts daily from Cornwall where he took Caroline to her parents house about 6 weeks ago, doctors say, final stages, could be today, tomorrow this week or next.

My son needs me here, my Cyprus family want me to attend in Cyprus, torn between loyalty to my son and paying my last respects to Charly. I don't know what to do, may come for the day.

I say goodbye my friends for a little while. try to get my self together.

[Paphitis]

Go for the day Milti otherwise you might end up with regrets.

Then go back to attend to your Son.

[supporttheunderdog]

Sorry for your loss and for the continuing problems with the the curse of cancer in your family. It took my Brother in Law and several friends.

As to the funeral, no one can decide for you, but I would say come if you can, though not at the expense of the needs of your living family, which you know about better than than the rest of us. I suspect Charly would have understood if you felt the predicament of your son and his wife prevents you coming.

[GreekIslandGirl]

I'm with STUD on this one. The needs of the living are greater than those of the dearly departed. Be with your son and daughter-in-law as much as you can during these final moments, since you have been informed of such.

Then, later, you know you can pay all due respects to Charly during the many Orthodox days of remembrance for the departed, the 40 days thingy - and all the others that follow in rapid succession - until the spirit is at peace again.

[miltiades]

Charly is being buried today, the funeral is now in process in Ayios Kosma, Ayios Athanasis.

My thoughts are with my family out in Cyprus right now, alas I was not able to attend in view of my predicament here in the UK.

A member of my family has corrected me on the date I met Charly, it was in 1962 not in as stated 1963.

Three things happen as you get older.
First your memory begins to diminish somewhat,
Second and third ...I forget..